India’s permanent representative to the United Nations Syed Akbaruddin has said the top body needs to ensure strict implementation of sanctions against terrorists and re-establish its authority. “The United Nations must do more to send the right message. Inconsistent implementation of sanctions on some of these terrorist eats away at the UN’s authority and needs to be addressed,” said Akbaruddin, while speaking at the UN General Assembly on situation in Afghanistan.

The Indian ambassador said new Taliban leader Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada – needs to be designated as a terrorist individual — a move backed by Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani.

Reiterating India’s commitment to working with Afghanistan, Akbaruddin said India chose Amritsar as the city to host the Heart of Asia Ministerial Conference next month, as Amritsar sits on one of Asia’s oldest and longest major routes dating back to the 2nd century BC.

This road was built from Kabul to Kolkata by the Indo-Afghan ruler Sher Shah Suri, five centuries ago.

He said this road can be a major artery running through India, across Pakistan and on to Afghanistan if “those with narrow mindsets need to open their hearts and allow arterial roads to be used for Afghan trade to and from everywhere in the region.”

In an apparent reference to safe havens being provided to terrorists by Pakistan, he said non-state actors, who carry out violence against the Afghan Government and the people of the country, “must not be allowed safe havens and sanctuaries in Afghanistan’s neighbourhood”.